Mickey Arthur
I said before the semi final that were not afraid of defeat but were afraid of not performing. Well, we performed as well as Pakistan allowed us to and therefore credit must be given where it is due.
Many people thought Shahid Afridis best batting days were behind him, that he had perhaps become an exceptional one-day spinner capable of whacking a few boundaries from number eight. He certainly hadnt looked very threatening with the bat in the tournament up until Thursday.
But he asked Younis Khan to promote him and he responded with a tremendous series of hits which put us under early pressure. Sure, he chanced his arm and enjoyed some luck but how many times have we said that everyone needs some luck to be successful ijn this format?
Very few people realise how much talent and skill it takes for a bowler like Umar Gul to bowl as many perfect yorkers in the block-hole as he does, let alone how much talent and power it takes to try and hit them for four or six! Once again, he was outstanding against us and has played a key role in Pakistans journey to the final.
We fought back well with the ball and 150 was an attainable target. We had a plan, a good plan, and we remained calm at every stage. We bowled and fielded well, and then rebuilt the innings in tremendous style with Jacques and J-P Duminy.
Only the final part of the plan failed the acceleration in the final five or six overs. Sure, it wasnt J-Ps day and nothing seemed to find the middle of his bat not for want of trying. Jacques made 60 off 50 balls which is exactly what you want from an opening batsmen chasing 150 but, with the big hitting Albie Morkel and Mark Boucher padded up and raring to go from as early as the tenth over, it was particularly hard on J-P because he backs himself and rightly so in those situations. It was just a rare, bad day!
But we have had an incredible season and we still regard ourselves as being at the forefront of international cricket and one of the most consistent teams across all three versions of the game. We will take a well deserved holiday now but, in just a couple of months time we have another chance to win an ICC tournament the Champions Trophy - and it will be on home soil, too. We will be raring to go.
Pakistan deserve their place in Sunday's final but, at this stage, I would have to go with the Sri Lanka as the favourites - if they get past the West Indies - purely because of the 'triple-M' factor. Murali, Mendis and Malinga must rate amongst the most creative, different and dangerous trios of bowlers ever to line up in an international team. I will be watching with interest - from South Africa!
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